History of the IChO
The International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO)
is an annual competition for the world’s most
talented chemistry students at the secondary
school level. Nations around the world send a
team of four students who are tested on their
chemistry knowledge and skills in a five-hour
laboratory practical exam and a five-hour
written theoretical examination that are held on
separate days with the practical examination
usually being before the theoretical
examination.
Each delegation consists of up to four
students and two mentors, one of whom is
designated as the head of the delegation or
"head mentor." A delegation may also include a
handful of guests and scientific observers.